Chronicle of the Unknown Sector. (#Wattys2015)

Part 29: Operation Strangle (Phase 2).

Flying overhead on-going skirmishes and Ravener infested areas the Crimson Scales aboard the gunship spent every nerve tingling moments feeding bullets into magazines, sitting in deep thought and looking at photo's of family and home.

At the open panels Pablo sat with his foot dangling down staring below, the Pilot flicking a switch lighting up the red light causing Pablo to peer up before heaving himself up getting the attention of the remainder of his group "Get ready!" he shouted out over the loud engines, 'ten seconds' radioed over the ear-comm leading him into his next shout "Stand up!" with the group synchronizing in motion, "Arm grapples!" shouted out after tapping his cybernetic forearm as the sounds of clicking ringing out thereafter.

One by one the group members sounded off as ready in tandem Pablo leaned himself outward staring ahead at the spire fast approaching whilst rushing winds bypassed him, within an instant the green light blinked emitting a high pitch buzz "Let's go!" the Commander yelled out leaping outward of the gunship staring upward as his group followed suit within a steady pace of each other, "Don't fire your grapple until you've past the top of the support arches they'll act as our point of momentum." Pablo radioed over his comm plummeting downward.

Seconds after the group fired off their grapple claws as lashing sound of the wires cracked the airwaves accompanied with loud tinging clacks of the embedding claws sending them into a forceful forward swing releasing themselves from the wire upon darting into openings of the spire, the bumpy landing caused the group to split apart with Pablo taking the shortest straw of being alone as he retrieved his rifle "Scales, sounds off." he called out over his comm with each name being noted off one by one.

"We haven't much time to worry on regrouping, take whoever is with you and proceed to the assigned areas, when that's done head upward to the spire's top for extraction." he instructed ending his transmission receiving confirmation beginning his trek further into the Ravener complex.

Each step taken sounding of metal armoured boot to slopping goo squishing upon contact the lone Serpent scanned his eyes among the surroundings as he went on high alert of any stalking threat, 'Nevison reporting, first charges set' radioed over the comm's with him remaining silent as he could uttering a whispering response "Copy that."

Moment later his attention drew peering down one of the cavernous paths with a daunting sound wallowing from it causing him to direct his rifle in it's direction pressing down it, further he went the darker shroud grew with the floor transferring from squishing goo to solid contacting clocks underneath his footing, "This is bizarre." uttered from under his breath continuing on finally entering a spacious chamber with an amber glows of light emitting it's contents.

At the centre of it all was one of the evolved Ravoids taking form of a woman unlike the previous one he had seen on Gorzil, keeping his rifle raised and eye narrowed staring her down through his weapon sights as she awoke from her sleeping vat resembling a dying plant unfurled uncovering her body only clothed by dried plant-life.

"My... well hello there handsome." she teased seductively towards him as the tapping of her heels made from thorns met solid ground beneath, "I wasn't expecting company, no matter I always enjoy being waltzing on without warning." she added with a dark chuckle.

"Ah shut it already." Pablo grunted letting loose with his rifle emptying the entire magazine into her, with each impact causing her to jolt from the force then ceasing as the rifle clicked empty causing him to peer down at it with a raised eyebrow "Well shite." he uttered removing the mag trying to reload before looking back at her lashing out her hair wrapping him up tightening it's grasp, "Lady, you got some major dandruff." Pablo wittingly remarked as he struggled.

"So you're the one my mother spoke of." the Ravoid stated closing distance between them as her skin regenerated the wounds she'd sustained, "I really should thank you for rejecting her, means I can now claim you as my own" she added running her talon length nail across his cheek.